Submitted by
Max Machicek
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin, Texas USA
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2004
Strengths: Very good bike for beginers and the price can't be beat for a beginers bike.
Weaknesses: Front fork is completly worthless when you become more advanced.
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike for beginers to buy or if you have a son that wants to ride with you every once and a while. If you upgrade a few things it will last you forever and be a very reliable bike. Ive had mine since i was 12 and all ive done is put a new fork new clip pedals and tires and it is better than my dads Trek 4500. Can't be beat for the price!!!!
Submitted by
Robert Reitzel
a Cross Country Rider
from Evanston wyoming
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2002
Strengths: Everything on the bike is great.....
Weaknesses: The I bent the front rim after 4 wrecks...
Bottom Line:
The bottom line for this bike is it is a great bike for any kind of riding. I have about 4,000 miles on it the Second chainring is almost wore out. I love it to death. I wouldn't sell it for anything. I got a giant Warp DS3 because I wanted to do harder riding and I didn't want to break anything on it. I ride it in any weather. Here in wyoming we get snow 12 months a year it does great in all weather.
Bike Setup: Stock exept the rims, stem, and pedals
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Casey Bitz
a Cross Country Rider
from Tucson, AZ, USA
Date Reviewed: October 27, 2001
Strengths: Solid Frame. Takes a beating. Great XC experience. Definately a purchase for new riders, and riders who want bike now, components later.
Weaknesses: Low end components cause shifting deficiencies - Nothing that cant be lived with. Original shock is worthless after reaching Intermediate and advanced level riding.
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike for the price. It is my first MTB. I started 20 months or so to recuperate from an injury and shed some wieght (Then 250lbs - Now 180lbs). I have since added a heavier shock and customized certain components to meet my needs. I now ride this bike like a madman, and it has taken me anywhere I have wanted to go. From the smooth single tracks of Fantasy Island to the technical trails of Chiva Falls to the technical backwoods of Kentucky Camp. Not one component has failed on this bike. I have put over 2000 miles on it. No issues. 5 Chilis
Favorite Trail: To Many here in Tucson to pick a fav
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$480.00
Similar Products Used: None
Bike Setup: Judy Race 100mm - Titek stem - Monkey Light bars - Easton seat post - Custom Saddle - XT mountain group soon to come. I have no need to purchase a new bike as this one will accomodate new components nicely.
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Submitted by
Michael Rozenfeld
a Weekend Warrior
from Livingston, NJ, USA
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2001
Strengths: Great frame, nice soft tires (mynthos) good grip, very durable, pretty good components for the price, comfortable seat, amazing steering, very light
Weaknesses: the front fork is really cheap, at first it was soft, now on the max "-" it's still hard as steel (maybe because of the water),
Bottom Line:
A very nice bike for beginners and amatures. I bike to work almost every day and no problems so far, all in all after 700km (437 miles) I had no trouble with this bike. An advanced rider obviously needs a nicer fork and better equipment , the frame doesn't need improvement!
Favorite Trail: art and northland parks, livingston
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$360.00
Purchased At: bloomfield bikes, NJ
Similar Products Used: 1998 Frontier
Bike Setup: put on metal pedals and new shifters (both crashed into pieces after a fall), cycle computer
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Submitted by
Ted
a Cross Country Rider
from GR Michigian
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2001
Strengths: Overall good bike extremely durable...its a good beginner bike eventually you'll want something better though the fork doesn't need any maintance
Weaknesses: steel frame is heavy i'd go with the gs or gsx for a just a little more you can have a light aluminum frame
Bottom Line:
great begginer bike ive had mine for two years and never had a problem...eventually you'll probally want more of a bike but until then the mesa is your bike very little maintence great bike for not a lot of money
Weaknesses: Limited info on how to adjust front shock in manual, front derailleur can be stubborn.
Bottom Line:
I just started getting back into mountain biking after finishing college. I looked for about three months for a bike under $450 that would fit me. Tried them all: Trek, Giant, GT, Kona etc. The Mesa was the perfect match. Very lightweight yet feels solid. The frame is excellent. The components are good. Don't know too much about the wheels, but I do alot of bunny-hops and they have seemed to hold up well so far. Now, this is a bike for the beginner THAT KNOWS THEY WANT TO RIDE HARDER THAN AVERAGE. If you want to tool around your neighborhood, save your money and buy a steel bike. For those who want to ride trails, downhill etc. The Mesa is an excellent starting point. The frame is a definetly a keeper and all upgrades can proceed from there as necesaary. My only regret is that I didn't cough up a little more to get the GS model because I already want to update the shock. All in all, an excellent entry level bike for the serious enthusiast.
Similar Products Used: Just about everything under $450
Bike Setup: Stock
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Submitted by
Ben Maddy
a Cross Country Rider
from Wahkiacus
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2001
Strengths: Excellent Frame.
Weaknesses: Front fork bottomed out alot, but I weight 200lbs. I replaced it due to my weight otherwise it was a good fork.
Bottom Line:
Great bike for the money if your not interested in more than 21 speeds the rest of the components are very good and don't need to be upgraded. I have the 2001 models with rapid fire shifters so that was nice. If you are just getting into biking I would say it is the best bike for the money you can get.
ive only rode this bike for about 2 weeks, but ive rode alot in those two weeks, and i love this bike, its so much better than my other bike, and i love the seat. it dosent let me down, a definatly great bike
Similar Products Used: my old piece of crap bike from 10 years ago
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Submitted by
NANO
a Weekend Warrior
from San Juan, PR, USA
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2001
Strengths: PRICE, weight, rapid fire shifters, overall Schwinn Quality!!! Stands up to torture from a 235lb gorilla.
Weaknesses: Cheap front suspension fork... that's about it...But don't get me wrong, if you are a "normal" person (under 210lbs) they are more than enough.
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike for the price, as a broke Med student I was looking for the best bang for the buck. The entry level MESA was my #1 choice, the 2001 model has rapid fire shifters which are excellent. The more expensive models that my frinds have (Mesa GS and Mesa GSX) ride the same as mine and cost from $100 to $200 more... I'd rather spend the money on my books(a.k.a.wine & women). TRUST ME... If your normal (do something else with your life besides riding a mountain bike)this is your best choice! FIVE BIG CHILIS FOR THE MESA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Purchased At: Ciclo Sport, Borinquen Towers, San Juan
Similar Products Used: Schwinn Frontier and varios K-mart types...
Bike Setup: Stock plus a gel seat cover... for the moment...
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Submitted by
Suzzie Qs
a Weekend Warrior
from Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2001
Strengths: Inexpensive, good frame
Weaknesses: Seat is a little uncomfortable, but that may be fixed through trial-and-error adjustment
Bottom Line:
Great beginners bike. The shocks absorb everything I have hit so far. It is light, and I climb hills I didn't think I could. The shifters work great, and are very easy to use. The bottom line? This was my very first "real" bike. It has a good frame, and if / when I get better it will be easy enough to upgrade the parts without having to get a new bike. If I don't get better, well, did I mention it was only $320? I would recommend this to anyone looking for a $300 - $400 hardtail.
Submitted by
Montie
a Weekend Warrior
from Mission Viejo, CA
Date Reviewed: March 15, 2001
Strengths: Componentry, comfort, weight, rapid fire shifters
Weaknesses: Too much of a rookie to know any just yet
Bottom Line:
This is my first mountain bike. I assumed I would dig it, but just in case I didn't, I only wanted to spend about $350. After reading all these reviews and visting all the local bike shops, I went with the 2001 Mesa. So far, I feel great about my choice. With the unusually crappy weather in SoCal, I haven't had the opportunity to really venture onto the (currently very muddy) trails, but from the few rides on the fire roads around my neighborhood, I love this bike. The rapid-fire shifters are way cool, and really make changing gears a snap. I can't wait until I get better and go to clipless pedals and such. I would highly recommend this bike to someone like me who is looking for a good starter bike, with good components and is more comfortable than a hard-core MTB. So far, absolutely nothing bad to say about this bike.
Favorite Trail: Local fire roads and trails (so far)
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At: South County Cycles
Similar Products Used: Trek 4300, Giant, Gary Fisher Wahoo
Bike Setup: Off-the-shelf setup, computer
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Luke
a Weekend Warrior
from North Liberty, Iowa, USA
Date Reviewed: March 11, 2001
Strengths: Very good price for a new 2000 bike. Good novice front fork. SRAM 5.0 makes for easy shifting.
Weaknesses: Don't really care for the burgandy/white color. Would rather have the rapidfire shifters as opposed to the grip shifts.
Bottom Line:
Bought the bike because it was a hell of a deal. Could have gotten a good deal on a Moab 1 if I had acted a week earlier. Would have prefered that more. Overall, the Mesa is a good bike. I will upgrade to better components as I need them.
Submitted by
robert jackson
a Cross Country Rider
from Huntington Beach, Ca.
Date Reviewed: February 27, 2001
Strengths: update to an earlier post
Bottom Line:
i bought a used K2 razorback hardtail that was too big from a freind and stripped it. put all the good stuff on my mesa and now this bike rocks.....it's still a bit heavy, but it's just way bomber now and outhandles just about any other bike i've ridden. added xtr,xt, and lx stuff, truvativ cranks, noleen mega air fork, mavic 517 wheels, etc.........for the money.....great frame
